Tag Archives: hi-rail

Join Custom Truck at AREMA 2024

Join-Custom-Truck-at-AREMA-2024-66e1b67f2f94ff364794ef77-1

As the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) 2024 conference approaches, industry professionals are gearing up for an event that promises to showcase the latest innovations and developments in railway engineering.

The Importance of AREMA in the Railway Industry

AREMA has long been a cornerstone of the railway industry, bringing together engineers, maintenance professionals, and industry leaders from around the world. The association is critical in promoting safety, efficiency, and innovation within the sector. With a strong focus on engineering practices and the latest technological advancements, AREMA’s annual conference is a prime opportunity for professionals to learn, network, and discover new solutions to drive their operations forward.

We share AREMA’s commitment to advancing the railway industry at Custom Truck. Our dedication to providing top-of-the-line equipment and solutions for railway maintenance and operations aligns perfectly with the goals of this esteemed association. That’s why we’re excited to participate in AREMA 2024 and showcase our latest offerings at Booth #1006.

Custom Truck’s Presence at AREMA 2024

Booth #1006 is set to be a hub of innovation at this year’s conference. Custom Truck is proud to present a range of specialized railway trucks and maintenance-of-way equipment designed to meet the unique needs of the industry. Whether you’re looking for robust equipment that can handle the demands of heavy rail work or cutting-edge solutions that enhance efficiency and safety, our booth will have something for everyone.

Our booth will feature opportunities to network with our team of experts, including sales representatives and product specialists ready to answer your questions and provide tailored advice.

AREMA 2024 is shaping up to be an exciting event, and Custom Truck’s Booth #1006 is set to be one of the highlights. We invite you to visit us and discover the cutting-edge railway solutions driving the industry forward. Mark your calendars and get ready to experience the best railway engineering at AREMA 2024!

The Impact of High-Speed Rail on Travel and Economic Development

High-speed rail has emerged as a transformative mode of transportation, revolutionizing travel and stimulating economic growth in regions across the globe. With its ability to connect distant cities and reduce travel times significantly, high-speed rail systems have become instrumental in enhancing both domestic and international travel while fostering economic development. In this blog post, we will explore the profound impact of high-speed rail on travel patterns and its contribution to economic growth.

Enhanced Connectivity

One of the primary advantages of high-speed rail is its ability to provide seamless connectivity between major urban centers and regions. Traditional transportation modes such as air travel and road networks face limitations due to congestion, long security procedures, and traffic delays. High-speed rail bypasses these challenges by offering rapid, efficient, and reliable transportation options. The reduced travel times make it possible for individuals and businesses to expand their reach and explore opportunities in distant locations, thus promoting economic integration.

Economic Benefits

The introduction of high-speed rail networks often leads to significant economic benefits. Firstly, it generates job opportunities in various sectors, ranging from construction and engineering to maintenance and operations. These projects require a skilled workforce, stimulating employment and driving economic activity. Additionally, the development of rail stations and associated infrastructure, such as hotels, restaurants, and retail establishments, creates a ripple effect, attracting investments and boosting local economies.

Tourism and Trade Promotion

High-speed rail plays a crucial role in promoting tourism and facilitating trade between cities and regions. Improved connectivity attracts more visitors, both domestic and international, as travelers can now explore multiple destinations within a shorter timeframe. Tourist attractions that were previously considered remote or inaccessible become easily accessible, leading to increased tourist spending and revenue generation. Furthermore, high-speed rail enables efficient movement of goods, supporting trade and commerce by reducing transportation costs, enhancing supply chain efficiency, and promoting exports.

Regional Development

The presence of high-speed rail can act as a catalyst for regional development. By connecting smaller cities and towns to major urban centers, high-speed rail stimulates economic growth in previously underserved areas. It creates opportunities for businesses to expand their operations, facilitates the movement of talent and resources, and encourages the establishment of new industries and innovation clusters. This decentralization of economic activity helps to alleviate the concentration of wealth and resources in urban areas, promoting balanced regional development.

Environmental Sustainability

In an era of increasing concern for environmental sustainability, high-speed rail offers a greener alternative to traditional transportation modes. Compared to air travel or road transport, high-speed rail produces significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions per passenger kilometer. By encouraging the shift from carbon-intensive modes of transport, high-speed rail contributes to reducing air pollution and combating climate change. Additionally, it helps alleviate traffic congestion and reduces the need for expanding road networks, leading to more sustainable urban planning.

High-speed rail systems have a transformative impact on travel patterns and economic development. Through enhanced connectivity, economic benefits, tourism promotion, regional development, and environmental sustainability, high-speed rail serves as a catalyst for growth and prosperity. As nations continue to invest in high-speed rail infrastructure, the positive impacts on travel experiences, job creation, regional integration, and sustainable development are likely to be realized on an even larger scale in the future.

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What Is a Rotary Dump Truck?

What Is a Rotary Dump Truck?

A rotary dump truck is a type of hi-rail vehicle with 180-degree swiveling capabilities, making it a crucial part of construction fleets. Rotary dump trucks feature rotating dump beds, allowing them to deposit materials in several directions while remaining stationary. Their standard wheels and flanged steel wheels enable them to travel along both highways and railroad tracks, transporting materials to and from various job sites easily.

Rotary Dump Truck Capabilities

Rotary dump trucks are unique because of their features. A rotary truck’s special design equips it with the following capabilities:

Swiveling Abilities

Because of their swiveling mechanism, rotary dump trucks can transport and deposit gravel in any direction without the truck body moving. A rotary dump truck can deposit materials on remote job sites while it remains on a track, making it an efficient and flexible vehicle.

Special Traveling Capabilities

Rotary dump trucks can easily access railway job sites for the most efficient performance on these projects. Their flanged steel wheels can deploy when necessary and allow them to move along railroad tracks smoothly.

Rotary Dump Truck Applications

Rotary dump trucks are perfect for railroad applications because of the flexibility of their dump beds and their modified wheels. You can use a rotary dump truck for the following applications:

Gravel deposit
Site Remediation
Bridge work
Diamond/switch removal
Culvert work
Emergency response
Demolition
Grade stabilization
Rail washout repair

Railroads and bridges require maintenance, but standard construction vehicles cannot reach these locations easily. A rotary dump truck’s flanged steel wheels grant construction workers easier entry to these job sites.

Rotary dump trucks are incredibly useful when crews need to perform washout repairs or grade stabilization. When heavy rain or flooding removes land and gravel from beneath railroad tracks, a crew can replace the lost material using a rotary dump truck. They can also deposit materials to create grade stabilization structures, preventing erosion.

Crews can use rotary dump trucks to deposit surfacing materials along railroad tie beds and carry materials away from railroad job sites. This ability makes rotary dump trucks especially useful for site remediation because construction crews can use them to remove contaminants from railroads.

In emergency situations, a crew can use a rotary dump truck to carry emergency-response equipment to remote incident locations. Crews can also use rotary dump trucks to remove debris or harmful materials from an incident scene if necessary.

Why Are Rotary Dump Trucks Important?

Rotary dump trucks are essential for fleets because of their flexibility and expanded transportation capabilities, especially for surfacing gangs. Since they can travel along highways and railroad tracks, crews can utilize them for various projects on different types of work sites. You can use a rotary dump truck to transport material to and from a location with or without railroad tracks.

Custom Truck’s Spec 760 Rotary Dump Truck

Custom Truck One Source offers the Spec 760 rotary dump truck for construction and railroad fleets. This reliable construction vehicle allows crews to carry and deposit materials on the rails and at other types of job sites. The spec 760 rotary dump truck offers the following features:

180-degree turntable for dump body rotation
14-foot dump bed
Hydraulic operation and proportional dump controls
Streetside drop-down ladder
Manual or hydraulic rail dogs
Electric-operation tarps
Fixed or drop rear apron with fixed side plates

Rent or Purchase a Rotary Dump Truck From Custom Truck One Source

Rotary dump trucks are beneficial for several types of construction jobs, and they are especially crucial for railroad construction and repair applications. Crews use rotary dump trucks to travel to and transport materials across railroad tracks, accessing railways more efficiently.

Our rotary dump bed’s swiveling capabilities help crews deposit materials along railroad tracks. At the same time, the vehicle remains stationary, giving workers the versatility needed to work with a wide range of projects, materials, and job locations. Custom Truck offers the Spec 760 rotary dump truck to provide crews with reliable transportation and dumping capabilities. Request a quote from us today to rent or purchase a Spec 760 rotary dump truck for your next job.

Functions of a Railroad Track Ballast – Custom Truck

Did you know that railroads are almost as old as the USA? Railroads first came to prominence in the 1820s.

A railroad is a highly efficient means of transporting goods overland routes. A single locomotive can tug hundreds of thousands of pounds more than other freight options like semi-trucks, and for cheaper. Part of the brilliant engineering surrounding a railroad is in its tracks, specifically the track ballasts.

Track ballasts were originally leftover ballast from ships. Then engineers recognized the benefit they provided to the track bed.

Keep reading for a brief guide on what railroad ballast is, what it does, and why it’s so important.

How Does a Railroad Work?

A railroad includes a handful of components:

The rails: the steel lengths that the train rides on
The railroad ties/railroad sleepers: rectangular blocks of wood or concrete to support the rails
The track bed: the place where the track lies
The track ballasts: the rocks that make up the track bed

While the rails contact the train’s wheels, the ties and track bed redistribute the hundreds of tons of weight. They keep any one of these components from moving out of place.

A train needs the assurance that the track will retain its shape when passing over. It also needs the assurance that it will be in the same position when it comes back. While regular maintenance is necessary, especially after extreme weather, this engineering ensures tracks produce minimal movement for years.

What Is the Function of a Ballast?

Ballast is originally a nautical term. It refers to the extra weight that a ship can add or remove to remain stable while out on the water. Without the proper weight–and weight distribution–it’s incredibly hard to keep a ship upright and navigate properly.

In a similar way, track ballasts keep the train’s track bed structure stable. While the rails and sleepers are vital, neither would function without the ballast’s load distribution. Otherwise, the railway sleepers or railroad ties would come loose, causing the track to become unusable.

Benefits of Using Stone Ballasts

There’s a reason that the ballast under tracks is always small stones. These stones have good friction and don’t shift much. If they were dirt or pebbles, they would move a lot under all the weight.

Further, loose stones prevent weed growth on or near the tracks. Enough vegetation on the tracks could risk derailing the train.

Water cannot pool easily among these stones, too. Instead, it drains out to the edges. Moisture also struggles to erode the supporting soil as long as there is a sufficiently deep track bed.

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Our railroad, though less prominent these days, is the bedrock of American freight. Its tracks use ingenious track ballasts to sustain the rails and keep them in position for repeated rail journeys. Without a ballast’s load distribution, the entire track bed would fall to pieces after a train went over.

Be Ready for Ballast Maintenance Season

Now’s the time when ballast maintenance is well underway and Custom Truck understands the importance of heavy-duty machines that can handle the biggest loads. Contact us today for our inventory of hi-rail units, including rotary dump bodies, grapple units, and more.

A Quick Guide to Hi-Rail Section Trucks – Custom Truck

When it comes to transportation in the United States, there are over 140,000 miles of railway that are laid out. To maintain and traverse the network of tracks fast, railroad workers use hi-rail section trucks to get around.

In the railroad industry, most labor involves keeping railroads functioning in top condition. This requires getting key personnel and equipment from one location to another. Hi-rail section trucks give space and flexibility to bring anything needed for a job to the right place.

If you’re a part of the railroad industry, then you need to know about hi-rail section trucks. Want to learn more about them? Keep reading to find out what you need to know about these hi-rail section trucks and why they’re so useful.

Features of Hi-Rail Section Trucks

Hi-rail trucks are powerful vehicles with a lot of space and strength for the tough railroad jobs within the railroad industry.

They have a diesel engine and can fit up to six people within a single cab, as well as a gross vehicle weight rating of 56,000 lbs. Hi-rail trucks come with a variety of configurations to fit the jobs they’re called upon.

A full hi-rail package for trucks can come with a hydraulic crane, 3-section hydraulic boom extension. Cranes and storage compartments on the truck are very useful when difficult jobs require many tools and force larger materials to move. They can help lay down new rail tracks and move supplies.

Types of Hi-Rail Trucks

There are multiple kinds of trucks that can have a hi-rail configuration, with different uses and functions. Hi-rail pickups are commonly used for simple transportation and track geometry. Hi-rail inspection vehicles are made for railroad workers to inspect tracks for any misalignments, deviations, or mud spots.

Signal maintainers and material handler hi-rail trucks are for workers who look over signals and crossings, as well as handle salvage and miscellaneous track components. Rotary dumps and welding vehicles are trucks for depositing larger loads and assisting welding crews in maintaining rail lines.

Hi-rail section trucks can also be customized for railroad jobs that don’t fall within those categories. This can be for things that are specialized jobs that are unique.

Knowing About Hi-rail Section Trucks

With our guide on everything related to hi-rail section trucks, you’ll have a greater understanding of why they’re so useful to the railroad industry. The vast network of railroad lines within the country needs to have the best tools available in order to maintain them.

Are you looking to rent a truck for your next job site? Please contact us today to reserve your hi-rail truck today!

black and white photo of old railroaders in front of a handcar

Evolution of the Personnel Carrier – Custom Truck One Source

The American Railway system is almost as old as the country itself.

As early as 1809, a surveyor named John Tomson had drafted a layout for a “Tramroad” for his customer Thomas Leiper Esq. The survey was titled “Draft Exhibiting . . . the Railroad as Contemplated by Thomas Leiper Esq. From His Stone Saw-Mill and Quarries on Crum Creek to His Landing on Ridley Creek.”, and was the blueprint for, what many consider to be, the first American Railroad.

This is how the railroads began. Business owners created their own independent lines, connecting commodity hubs, like quarries and lumberyards, to job sites. This expedited their supply chains. During this period, “surveying and mapping activities flourished in the United States as people began moving inland over the inadequately mapped continent.” Once enough entrepreneurs had proven the effectiveness of their railways, the concept gained mainstream interest, and the maps mentioned above began featuring rail routes in their keys.

Old-Fashioned Handcars

The photo below features an old-fashioned handcar, also known as a pumper. It’s unlikely to surprise many a reader; it’s one of the many images that resonates with us as a symbol of the Westward Expansion, of Americana, of our past, but what may surprise you is their criticality in creating the Transcontinental Railroad.

The track was divided into “sections. ” These were typically about 6 to 10 miles long. Section Crews or Gangs maintained these sections. Each section typically had a section house, which stored a crew’s tools and, of course, their handcarts. An estimated 130,000 miles of track spanned America by 1900. With one handcar allocated per section, at minimum, an estimated 13,000 handcars would have been in operation, in the United States, at the time. This estimate obviously does not include spare carts, or the carts that comprised the telegraph fleets of companies like Western Union.

Engines Move Railway Car Innovation Forward

In tandem with time, innovation marched forward and brought us the internal combustion engine. Coupling engine power with the handcar birthed the early personnel carriers, which would come to be known as Motorcars. Railroaders called them “Speeders” because their speed surpassed the 10-15mph an industrious crew could generate pumping a handcar.

From the early 1900s to the 1980s, multiple companies like Beaver, Buda, Fairbanks-Morse, Kalamazoo, Tamper, Woodings, and Fairmont Railway Motors, Inc manufactured these speeders. Fairmont, acquired by Harsco Rail in 1979, was the undisputed king of the motorcars. The company initially manufactured cars with single-cylinder flywheel engines, A.K.A hit-and-miss engines. These cars were known as poppers, or putt-putts, due to the distinct cadence of their engine fire.

Soon, the modest 2-seater poppers were accompanied by larger gang cars, which, depending on how creative crews could get with their seating arrangements, could transport 6-8 men. Eventually, the single-stroke engine was swapped for a 16HP Onan CCKB Gas engine on the M-Series Cars, and Ford Diesels on the larger A-Series Gang Cars.

NARCOA, a national Speeder enthusiast group, has championed the restoration of these speeders. Most members try to stick with original parts, which are luckily available from Merchants like Phil Hopper. Supervised by railway personnel, NARCOA Members take these Speeders on Motorcar Runs. Keep an eye when traveling beside a railroad track; you may just catch a piece of history traveling beside you.

Hi-Rail Gear

Around the ’70s, companies like Harsco Rail popularized Hi-Rail Gear – the age of the hi-rail truck was born. Today, companies like RAFNA, DMF, Load King, & Continental Railworks have joined Harsco as Railgear OEMs.

Hi-Rail vehicles come in many different builds. Standard builds include pickup trucks, inspection vehicles, signal maintainers, service trucks, material handlers, welder vehicles, section trucks, and rotary dumps. These standardized builds will often have unique design features at the request of their end-user.

It is truly amazing to think of how far we’ve come and how far we’ll go – as an industry and as a people. Like our equipment, we are but the latest iteration of something greater. The newest face to a spirit that has existed for generations. We maintain the roads that bind us to our history, and we build paths to new horizons. We are railroaders.

a rotary dump, often used for ballast work, using it's rotary mechanisms

Got Ballast Work? A Hi-Rail Rotary Dump Is What You Need!

Ballast, and the sub-ballast, below, is comprised of crushed stone. Ballast functions as the foundation, or trackbed, upon which crossties rest. It serves to bear tie loads, stabilize track structure, expedite water drainage, and hamper invasive track vegetation. Therefore, ballast work is an important part of railroad operations.

Railroaders primarily use Hi-Rail Dump Trucks for ballast work. They allow them to easily transport and lay ballast that will eventually be graded and/or tamped by ballast regulators or tampers.

Custom Truck’s Spec 760 Rotary Dump features a 14’ 12 cubic yard Elliptical Dump Body that utilizes a 180° Rotating Turntable and a Telescopic Hoist Cylinder to achieve its Rotary Dump Function.

The Elliptical Dump body’s design is great for ballast work. For example, radial walls reduce the impact force of discharged material, alleviate material stagnation, and facilitate post-job cleaning. Adjustable Spreader Chutes permit the operator to manipulate the dispersal volume of deposited material.

There is a slight risk of vehicle tipping associated with ballast dumping. This is due to the rotary function and the associated load shifts. However, raildogs are an effective preventative measure against load tipping. The raildog apparatus binds the Roto Dump to the rail by means of a clamp affixed to the railhead while the opposite side of the clamp is mounted to the 760’s frame.

A 30-Ton Pintle Hitch is useful for towing heavy loads to and from job sites.

Heavy-Duty Railgear allows Road-to-Rail travel. The 760’s gear accommodates 20 tons per guide wheel axle at 20 mph.

We also outfit each truck with our standard LED Railroad Lighting Package:

4-Corner Flashing LED Amber Strobes
Amber Strobe (Dump Body Mount)
Front & Rear Railgear LED Lighting.

If selected as an option, the operator may operate the dump bed via Radio Remote Control, which effectively streamlines the operation of the 760 while optimizing the operator’s track-time.

Going beyond our standard spec, we may provide Customized Variants tailored to accommodate the Unique Needs of Your Operation.

760 Hi-Rail Rotary Dump Specs – Custom Truck One Source

One of our most popular Hi-Rail vehicles is the 760 Rotary Dump.

The 760 features a 14’ 12 cubic yard Elliptical Dump Body that utilizes a 180° Rotating Turntable and a Telescopic Hoist Cylinder to achieve its Rotary Dump Function.

A Drop-Down Streetside Ladder ensures safe passage to the dump body’s bed. Important items may be housed in the 760’s 36”x18”x18” Underbody Toolbox. A 30-Ton Tow Package provides the operator with the capacity needed to haul heavy loads to and from job sites. Adjustable Spreader Chutes permit the operator to manipulate the dispersal volume of deposited material.

Heavy-Duty Railgear promotes Road-to-Rail travel.

Each truck is outfitted with our standard LED Railroad Lighting Package:

4-Corner Flashing LED Amber Strobes
Amber Strobe (Dump Body Mount)
Front & Rear Railgear LED Lighting.

If selected as an option, the operator may operate the dump bed via Radio Remote Control, which effectively streamlines the operation of the 760 and optimizes the operator’s track-time.

Going beyond our standard spec, we may provide Customized Variants tailored to accommodate the Unique Needs of Your Operation.

Call or email today for more details regarding our Spec 760 Rotary Dump Truck.

Hi-Rail Track Inspectors: Spec 315

Railways require constant supervision and maintenance. Track inspectors, as the title implies, inspect railways for issues and errors that require correction. These people often hold a certification from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and many years of experience with railroad operations. The responsibilities of these inspectors may include, but are not limited to:

Maintaining detailed records regarding track conditions
Supervising functionality of signal crossing equipment
Submission of maintenance requests
Management of equipment and repair personnel associated with repairs.

Often, they will come across an issue that they can diagnose and handle themselves – assuming they are equipped with the right tools. It is for this reason that Custom Truck One Source (CTOS) includes the Spec 315 in our lineup of Hi-Rail vehicles.

Spec 315

Our 315s are light-duty Hi-Rail track inspectors that pack a punch. The standard build utilizes an extended cab F-350 as its chassis. Aluminum wheel modifications provide optimized ride stability. Upon customer request, we may offer crew cab variants.

The Track Inspector’s body features cargo space, an integral cab protector, and various compartments. Such compartments include:

Gas bottle compartment
Underbody box
Horizontal compartments
Long tool storage

The inspector may utilize hydraulic tools such as impact guns and rail drills via a 5/10 GPM tool circuit, which features a 50’ spring rewind hose reel and QD couplers.

A 12V 25-gallon spot sprayer allows the inspector to blast away debris and inspect rail conditions better or neutralize small fires.

CTOS also provides a myriad of options, such as:

A shunt system with in-cab switch panel, which allows the operator to raise/lower signal crossings at his/her discretion
A distance measuring device
A 2000-watt inverter that provides the operator with auxiliary power
A spotlight with radio remote control
A Robolube rail lubrication unit – a device that provides consistent grease application to the gauge face.
An aluminum body that maximizes payload efficiency.

CTOS consistently strives to provide its customers with streamlined products to aid them in their daily operations. We’re proud to include our 315 as one of those products. For more information, please click here.

Another Tool to Get the Job Done: The 609V2 Section Truck

Rail maintenance is an ongoing job for railroad section crews. Constant commuter & freight traffic means constant wear and tear on rail networks. Tasked with maintaining a certain number of track miles, each crew may be required to swap out sticks of rail, remove and replace railroad spikes, install rail frogs, or perform one of many other duties. Rain or shine, they must be ready at a moment’s notice. A section truck isn’t merely a mode of transportation, it’s a critical tool in the crew’s arsenal. When equipped with one of our hi-rail section trucks, these crews are outfitted with the tools they need to get the job done. One such truck is the 609V2.

609V2 Section Truck Specs

The 609V2 is a heavy duty section truck, typically a Freightliner chassis outfitted with an Ultrashift automated manual transmission and PTO provision, that features an articulating crane, oxy/acetylene hose system, hydraulic tool circuits, outriggers, and a set of heavy-duty rail gear. The cab’s interior features a multi-switch dash panel, a center console lockbox, crane remote battery charging bay, a reversing camera with two views (reward & hi-rail), and an inverter.

Given a crew’s large list of duties, storage is always a concern. The truck’s body has multiple storage compartments throughout. The front of the truck hosts a derailer mount. The rear of the body features one long bar compartment and a miscellaneous storage bin. One vertical compartment with an adjustable shelf and tool holders, an underbody box, and a long bar compartment comprise the streestside portion. The curbside features one vertical oxy/acetylene compartment, an underbody box with a three-drawer tool box, two horizontal compartments, and additional access to the long bar compartment. The bed also boasts an ample amount of storage space with its two storage bins, sign holder, tong holder, and rail expander mount. Material such as rail sticks and frogs are stowed in the H-Frame Material Rack and tied down via heavy duty straps and mounted ratchets.

The IMT Articulating Crane

The crew can handle such material due to IMT’s articulating crane. Synced with the RCL system, the crane may be operated with a remote control, which includes control over the following functions:

Crane Rotation
Primary and Secondary Boom Articulation
Boom Extension
Operation Speed Toggle (4 Creep Levels)
Crane Spotlight Toggle (Momentary/Permanent)
Tool Circuit Toggle
Emergency Shutdown

Prior to delivery, CTOS inspectors load test the crane at each angle, at multiple extensions, to provide the operator with max lift guidelines. As an extra measure, the RCL employs an electronic overload protection system, mitigating risk of overloads during crane operation.

Extra Section Truck Features

Rear Features

The rear of the truck also hosts a multitude of features. An oxy/acetylene hose reel, which is mounted atop the rear-streetside corner of the body, ties into the curbside storage compartment, facilitating torch work at the rear of the vehicle. Two pairs of outrigger control levers are situated at both sides of the body’s rear, providing the operator a superior vantage when deploying/adjusting outriggers. A rear-access walk-up with handrailing and a fold-down step provides members easy and safe passage to and from the bed of the truck.

A long bar storage compartment is at the center-rear of the body, between the two outrigger control levers, and complements the curbside/streetside compartments. A detachable hydraulic tool holder rests at the rear, providing a convenient place to holster Spike Pullers, Spike Hammers, etc. Two hydraulic tool circuit spring rewind reels, which both feature 50 feet of hose, are mounted on the rear-curbside of the truck. These tool circuits feature an adjustable 5/10 GPM (Gallon Per Minute) flow rate. You can adjust the circuits’ flow rate manually at an enclosed switch panel, which is on the rear-streetside of the truck, or remotely with the RCL remote (more details below).

Switch Panel

The switch panel presents a combination of selector switches, indicator lights, and a pressure gauge. The detailed component list includes:

Tool Circuit #1 Selector Switch (5 GPM/ Off / 10 GPM)
Tool Circuit #2 Selector Switch (5 GPM / Off / 10 GPM)
Rail Gear Selector Switch (On / Off)
Rear Lights Selector Switch (On / Off)
Crane Selector Switch (On / Off)
Filter Ok Indicator Light
Replace Filter Indicator Light
Tools Disabled Indicator Light

In the pursuit of providing convenience to the operator, the switch panel, tool circuit, and RCL system have been integrated, providing remote toggle control over the tool circuit and boom-tip light with the flick of a switch from the RCL remote.

Rail Gear

With a constant focus on streamlining design and functionality, we’ve decided to outfit the V2 with Continental’s G-60 Rail Gear. The G-60 features an automatic mechanical lock. This mechanical lock employs a slot design instead of pins/lock-ups. Whether in highway or rail position, the geometry of the slot utilizes the gear’s gravity to lock it in place. This pinless design achieves two things:

Simplifies the process of locking and unlocking gear, saving the operator precious time during stowing or deployment.
Significantly reduces the lifetime maintenance cost associated with pin repair/replacement.

There is also an in-cab retraction option that reduces instances of manual retraction at crossings. The G-60 also features a positive downforce system. Rubber springs exert a significant downward force on the axle when the truck’s outer dually climbs onto an obstacle, which assists in maintaining constant gear-to-rail contact at troublesome areas like high crossings and guarded frogs. This feature reduces risk of derailment, by helping to maintain a constant hi-rail to rail contact at high crossings, guarded frogs, etc.

The rail network that traverses this country often evades the focus of those who rely on it. Typically, it only becomes a fixture in our minds when a travelling train stops us at a crossing. We often don’t think of the relationship between the rail network and our everyday lives. We don’t think about how bulk commodities make it from point A and B, from one coast to the other. That’s because we don’t have to worry about it. The section crews we spoke of above alleviate that worry; and they do it safely with trucks like the 609V2.

Could your Crew use a new section truck?

Call or Email us!

Custom Truck One Source is the first true single-source provider of specialized truck and heavy equipment solutions for railroad maintenance.

Hi-Rail equipment offered:

Pick Ups
Track Inspector
Section Trucks
Digger Derrick
Hydraulic Excavator
Material Handler
Mechanic’s Truck (hi-rail optional)
Rotary Dump Truck
Signal Maintainer
Supervisor SUV

With sales, rentals, aftermarket parts and service, equipment customization, remanufacturing, financing solutions, and asset disposal, our team of experts, vast equipment breadth and integrated network of locations across North America offer superior service and unmatched efficiency for our customers.